clinical psychologist

Michelle Y. Pearlman, Ph.D.

Common belief:

I need help, but the whole thing is too confusing—who do I call for help?

Reality:

• The differences between mental health professionals are not obvious. There are no rules to choosing the “right” person to help.
• Services that psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, and counselors overlap—most of them provide “talk therapy (also known as “therapy” or “psychotherapy”)
• Psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, counselors, and other mental health professionals are also distinct in some of the services they provide

Distinctions:

• Psychiatrists can prescribe medications to help reduce symptoms
• Psychologists treat a wide-variety of psychiatric disorders
• Clinical Social Workers also help connect people to resources—housing, jobs
• Counselors facilitate adjustment, for example, to school or divorce